Tottenham midfielder Drew Spence has officially etched her name into Women's Super League history, becoming the competition's all-time appearance record holder. The 34-year-old made her 217th WSL appearance when she started against Birmingham City on Sunday, surpassing former Chelsea captain Millie Bright. Spence, who was named Spurs captain in the summer, has played every single minute of the 2026-27 campaign so far and could end the term as Tottenham's only outfield player to feature for the full 90 minutes across all of their league matches.
The landmark represents another chapter in a career spent entirely in London. After developing through the academies at Arsenal and Fulham, Spence enjoyed a decorated 14-year spell at Chelsea, collecting five league titles and four FA Cups before moving to Tottenham in 2022. Internationally, she switched nationalities from England to Jamaica in 2021. Reflecting on her impact, Chelsea midfielder Erin Cuthbert praised Spence as an "absolute warrior" possessing tactical brains and skill, recalling that Spence welcomed her to Chelsea with a two-footed tackle before becoming a supportive mentor whose longevity she deeply admires.
Speaking on the achievement, Spence described reaching the milestone as a deeply proud moment for both herself and her family, recognizing the immense discipline required to remain available across so many years. Although she acknowledged having personal regrets about not prioritizing physical preparation and nutrition earlier in her career, she emphasized that those lessons helped her flourish in North London. Spence stated that she is now in the best shape of her life, a turnaround that has earned enormous praise from Tottenham manager Martin Ho, who lauded her tactical, technical, and physical evolution since arriving at the club.
Beyond her consistency on the pitch, Spence has been an active voice for progression off it, featuring in the 2023 Jamaica squad that penned an open letter demanding immediate and systematic change from the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF). Ho noted that overcoming such adversity has shaped her into a sharp, intelligent leader who can continue playing for as long as she desires. Looking forward, the veteran midfielder confirmed she has no intention of retiring anytime soon, insisting she still intends to improve her game and give everything to football for as long as possible.